Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said the shooting happened inside a home near 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old William Thomas Mackey.

Thompson said officers responded to the home around 3:20 a.m. where the 77-year-old resident told them someone had burglarized his home the day before and that he was awakened on Friday by an intruder.

He said he realized the intruder was not a family member and got a shotgun. He told police he feared for his life and fired one shot at the suspect who was struck and fell to the ground.

Thompson said Mackey was pronounced deceased at the scene. A pickup truck he drove to the scene was found in front of the residence, according to Thompson.

Neighbor Sandi Corbin, who has lived in the neighborhood for 26 years, said she heard the shot. She told ABC15 burglaries are not uncommon in her neighborhood.

"I've been robbed six times," Corbin said.

Jeffrey Gabriel lives just a couple of houses away. As he watched Mackey's father take away the pickup truck he was trying to make sense of what had happened.

"My attitude is it happened, I feel bad for the family that lost him. I feel bad for my neighbor because he's got to live with himself but he was protecting his stuff. I can't judge him for that," Gabriel said.

Thompson said police aren't sure if Mackey was the same person who burglarized the home on Thursday. He said it did not appear that Mackey was armed.

Thompson said the scene and interview with the burglary victim were consistent with self defense, however the case will be go to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for review.

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